U.S. patent number 10,290,030 [Application Number 15/790,441] was granted by the patent office on 2019-05-14 for system and method for adjusting the user cost associated with purchasable virtual items.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is Electronic Arts Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael C. Caldarone, Matthew Curtis, Christopher Pitz, Kellen Christopher Smalley.
United States Patent |
10,290,030 |
Curtis , et al. |
May 14, 2019 |
System and method for adjusting the user cost associated with
purchasable virtual items
Abstract
A virtual space is provided to users via client computing
devices where the user cost associated with purchasable virtual
items may be adjusted. A game shop interface may be presented to
users, comprising offers to purchase sets of one or more virtual
items to the user. The associated user cost for the one or more
sets of virtual items may be adjusted based upon a determination
that the rate of purchase of and/or the revenue generated from the
virtual items is more than a specified threshold from the average
rate of purchase and/or average revenue generation rate.
Inventors: |
Curtis; Matthew (Novato,
CA), Smalley; Kellen Christopher (Pleasanton, CA), Pitz;
Christopher (San Francisco, CA), Caldarone; Michael C.
(Palo Alto, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electronic Arts Inc. |
Redwood City |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. (Redwood
City, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
60082882 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/790,441 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
14022118 |
Sep 9, 2013 |
9799059 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
30/0283 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
30/00 (20120101); G06Q 30/02 (20120101) |
Field of
Search: |
;705/26.1-27.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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<http://lotrowiki.com/index.php/Main_Page),
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|
Primary Examiner: Civan; Ethan D
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear,
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for adjusting a user cost associated with purchasable
virtual items, the system comprising: one or more processors
configured by machine-readable instructions to: execute an instance
of a virtual space wherein the virtual space is a visual virtual
space presented on client computing platforms associated with users
via an interface, and using the instance of the virtual space to
generate state information that is transmitted to the client
computing platforms associated with the users over a network, the
state information facilitating presentation of a view of the
virtual space to the users via the client computing platforms, and
to facilitate interaction of the users with the virtual space by
executing actions in the instance of the virtual space in response
to receiving action requests over the network from the client
computing platforms associated with the users; facilitate
presentation, within the interface, of offers to purchase sets of
one or more virtual items to the user where individual ones of the
sets of one or more virtual items has associated user costs, such
that a first offer for a first set of one or more virtual items has
a first associated user cost; obtain an average rate of purchase of
individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items by the
users, wherein the average rate of purchase represents an average
rate for a time period and individual rates of purchase represent
rates for individual intervals of time within the time period that
are shorter in duration than the time period, and wherein a first
average rate of purchase by the users is obtained for the first set
of one or more virtual items; dynamically compare at least one rate
of purchase and the average rate of purchase of individual ones of
the one or more sets of virtual items; adjust the user cost
associated with individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items based on a comparison of the at least one rate of purchase
and the average rate of purchase of individual ones of the one or
more sets of virtual items, such that the first offer for the first
set of one or more virtual items has an adjusted user cost based on
a first comparison of a first rate of purchase for the first set of
one or more virtual items and the first average rate of purchase
for the first set of one or more virtual items; and present, via
the interface, the adjusted user cost for the first offer for the
first set of the one or more sets of virtual items such that the
interface presents the adjusted user cost in accordance with the
dynamic comparison of the at least one rate of purchase and the
average rate of purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets
of virtual items made by the one or more processors.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to monitor the rate of
purchase of sets of one or more virtual items during defined
periodic time intervals, such that the rate of purchase of the
first set of one or more virtual items is monitored during a first
periodic time interval, and wherein the user cost associated with
the first offer for the set first of one or more virtual items is
adjusted responsive to a determination that the rate of purchase
during the first periodic time interval is more than a specified
threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the first set
of one or more virtual items, wherein the determination is based on
the comparison of the rate of purchase and the average rate of
purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to: obtain an average
revenue generation rate for individual ones of the sets of one or
more virtual items, such that a first average revenue generation
rate is obtained for the first set of one or more virtual items; to
determine a revenue generation rate from purchases of individual
ones of the sets of one or more virtual items over a second period
of time in response to an adjustment of the associated user cost
for the individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items,
such that a second revenue generation rate is determined for the
first set of one or more virtual items over the second period of
time; and, compare the second revenue generation rate with the
first average revenue generate rate for individual ones of the sets
of one or more virtual items, such that the second revenue
generation rate is compared with the first average revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are
further configured by machine-readable instructions to adjust the
first user cost associated with the first set of one or more
virtual items in response to a determination that the first revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is
more than a specified threshold from the first average revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to reduce the first
user cost associated with the first set of one or more virtual
items, in response to a determination that the second revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is
less than the first average revenue generate rate for the first set
of one or more virtual items, and to maintain the first user cost
associated with the first set of one or more virtual items, in
response to a determination that the second revenue generation rate
for the first set of one or more virtual items is greater than or
the same as the first average revenue generate rate for the first
set of one or more virtual items.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are
further configured by machine-readable instructions to obtain an
average revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more
virtual items, purchased by a first set of users comprising users
having one or more like parameters, and the first user cost
associated with the first set of one or more virtual items for the
first set of users is adjusted in response to determining the
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items purchased by the first set of users.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein responsive to the first
comparison of the rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual being two standard deviations above the first average, the
associated first user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items is increased, and responsive to the first comparison of the
rate of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual being two
standard deviations below the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items, the associated first
user cost for the first set of one or more virtual items is
decreased.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of one or more rules for
determining the average purchase rate of individual ones of the one
or more sets of one or more virtual items.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of an adjustment to the adjusted
first associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are
configured by machine-readable instructions to facilitate entry
and/or selection of a maximum associated user cost for the sets of
one or more virtual items.
11. A method for adjusting a user cost associated with purchasable
virtual items, the method implemented on a computer system that
includes one or more processors, the method comprising: executing
an instance of a virtual space, wherein the virtual space is a
visual virtual space presented on client computing platforms
associated with users via an interface; generating state
information using the instance of the virtual space, wherein the
state information that is transmitted to the client computing
platforms associated with the users over a network the state
information facilitating presentation of a view of the virtual
space to users; facilitating interaction of the users with the
virtual space by executing actions in the instance of the virtual
space in response to receiving action requests over the network
from the client computing platforms associated with the users;
facilitating presentation within the interface, of offers to
purchase sets of one or more virtual items to the user where
individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items has
associated user costs, such that a first offer for a first set of
one or more virtual items has a first associated user cost;
obtaining an average rate of purchase of individual ones of the
sets of one or more virtual items by the users, wherein the average
rate of purchase represents an average rate for a time period and
individual rates of purchase represent rates for individual
intervals of time within the time period that are shorter in
duration than the time period, and wherein a first average rate of
purchase by the users is obtained for the first set of one or more
virtual items; dynamically comparing at least one rate of purchase
and the average rate of purchase of individual ones of the one or
more sets of virtual items; adjusting the user cost associated with
individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual items based on a
comparison of the at least one rate of purchase and the average
rate of purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets of
virtual items, such that the first offer for the first set of one
or more virtual items has an adjusted user cost based on a first
comparison of a first rate of purchase for the first set of one or
more virtual items and the first average rate of purchase for the
first set of one or more virtual items; and presenting, via the
interface, the adjusted user cost for the first offer for the first
set of the one or more sets of virtual items such that the
interface presents the adjusted user cost in accordance with the
dynamic comparison of the at least one rate of purchase and the
average rate of purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets
of virtual items made by the one or more processors.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: monitoring the rate
of purchase of sets of one or more virtual items during defined
periodic time intervals, such that the rate of purchase of the
first set of one or more virtual items is monitored during a first
periodic time interval; and adjusting the user cost associated with
the first offer for the set first of one or more virtual items upon
a determination that the rate of purchase during the first periodic
time interval is more than a specified threshold from the first
average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual
items, wherein the determination is based on the comparison of the
rate of purchase and the average rate of purchase of individual
ones of the one or more sets of virtual items.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: obtaining an
average revenue generation rate for individual ones of the sets of
one or more virtual items, such that a first average revenue
generation rate is obtained for the first set of one or more
virtual items; determining a revenue generation rate from purchases
of individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items over a
second period of time in response to an adjustment of the
associated user cost for the individual ones of the sets of one or
more virtual items, such that a second revenue generation rate is
determined for the first set of one or more virtual items over the
second period of time; and, comparing the second revenue generation
rate with the first average revenue generate rate for individual
ones of the sets of one or more virtual items, such that the second
revenue generation rate is compared with the first average revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the first
user cost associated with the first set of one or more virtual
items in response to a determination that the first revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is
more than a specified threshold from the first average revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising reducing the first
user cost associated with the first set of one or more virtual
items, in response to a determination that the second revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is
less than the first average revenue generate rate for the first set
of one or more virtual items, and maintaining the first user cost
associated with the first set of one or more virtual items, in
response to a determination that the second revenue generation rate
for the first set of one or more virtual items is greater than or
the same as the first average revenue generate rate for the first
set of one or more virtual items.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising obtaining an average
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items, purchased by a first set of users comprising users having
one or more like parameters, and adjusting the first user cost
associated with the first set of one or more virtual items for the
first set of users in response to determining the revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items
purchased by the first set of users.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein responsive to the first
comparison of the rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual being two standard deviations above the first average, the
associated first user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items is increased, and responsive to the first comparison of the
rate of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual being two
standard deviations below the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items, the associated first
user cost for the first set of one or more virtual items is
decreased.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising facilitating entry
and/or selection by administrators of one or more rules for
determining the average purchase rate of individual ones of the one
or more sets of one or more virtual items.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising facilitating entry
and/or selection by administrators of an adjustment to the adjusted
first associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising facilitating entry
and/or selection of a maximum associated user cost for the sets of
one or more virtual items.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure relates to the user cost associated with virtual
items, such as virtual items available for purchase in a game shop
associated with a virtual space, and adjusting the user cost
associated with the virtual items.
BACKGROUND
Many virtual environments and/or online games, provide users the
opportunity and ability to make purchases of virtual items for use
within the online game using real money, or virtual currency
obtained with real money. Revenue may be generated for the operator
of the virtual environment and/or online game through the purchase
of virtual items by the users of the virtual environment and/or
online game through a game shop, or virtual market place associated
with the virtual environment and/or online game.
In some systems, the user cost associated with the virtual items
has previously been set by administrators of the online game and
users may purchase the virtual items at that administrator-set user
cost. By setting a fixed user cost associated with the virtual
items the operators of the online games fail to take advantage of
the natural supply and demand economic system that occurs outside
of the game environment, and therefore may fail to maximize revenue
generation from the purchase, by users, of virtual items in the
online game.
SUMMARY
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing a virtual shop
associated with a virtual game operating in a virtual space,
wherein the virtual shop comprises one or more sets of virtual
items for purchase by users of the virtual space. Users may
purchase the one or more sets of virtual items with real currency,
or, more typically, virtual currency purchased with real currency.
Revenue generated from the purchase of virtual items in the virtual
shop may go to the operator of the virtual space, allowing the
operator to generate revenue.
Individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual items may have
an associated user cost. Each set of virtual items may comprise one
or more virtual items for purchase by users. The one or more
virtual items may be stored in a user inventory and/or used within
the virtual space. The associated user cost for the one or more
sets of virtual items may be automatically adjusted based upon the
demand for the individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items. For example, in response to a determination that the demand
for a first set of one or more virtual items has increased, the
associated user cost of the first set of virtual items may be
automatically increased by the system. Automatically increasing the
associated user cost of virtual items having a relatively high
demand compared to other virtual items, or compared with the demand
of the virtual items during a previous time period, may increase
the revenue generated from those virtual items, and do so without
the need for intervention by administrators. Similarly, in response
to a determination that the demand for the first set of virtual
items has decreased, the associated user cost of the first set of
virtual items may be decreased. Decreasing the associated user cost
of the first set of virtual items may incentivize users to purchase
the first set of virtual items and may, therefore, increase the
revenue generated from the first set of virtual items.
Adjusting the user cost associated with the one or more sets of
virtual items based on user demand may enhance revenue generation
for the operator of the virtual space. Automatic adjustment of the
user cost allows enhancement of revenue generation to occur without
the need for administrator input, thereby reducing overhead for the
operator of the virtual space, and ensuring a more efficient
reaction to market conditions for virtual items within the virtual
space.
The revenue generated from individual ones of the one or more sets
of virtual items may be monitored over defined periods of time,
and/or continuously. In response to the revenue from a first set of
one or more virtual items reducing, the associated user cost of the
first set of one or more virtual items may be reduced to
incentivize users to purchase the first set of one or more virtual
items, and therefore, increase the revenue from the first set of
one or more virtual items. In response to the revenue from the
first set of one or more virtual items increasing, the associated
user cost of the first set of one or more virtual items may be
increased to further increase the revenue from the first set of one
or more virtual item. Subsequent to the associated user cost of the
first set of one or more virtual item being increased, upon a
determination that the revenue generated from the first set of one
or more virtual item has decreased, the associated user cost for
the first set of one or more virtual item may be reduced by a
determined amount, reduced back to its original amount, or reduced
to another amount.
In some implementations, the system may include one or more
servers. The server(s) may be configured to communicate with one or
more client computing platforms according to a client/server
architecture. The users may access the system and/or a virtual
space (e.g., a virtual world, a game space, etc.) via the client
computing platforms.
The system configured to adjust the user cost associated with one
or more purchasable virtual items may include one or more
processors. The processor(s) may be configured to execute one or
more computer program modules to provide an in-game offer to one or
more players of an online game. The computer program modules may
include one or more of a space module, a user module, a shop
module, a purchase monitoring module, a cost adjustment module, a
revenue monitoring module, an administrator module, and/or other
modules. The processor(s) may be at the same location or may be at
different locations. In some implementations, the client computing
platforms may be configured to execute one or more computer program
modules that are the same as or similar to the computer program
modules of the server(s) to provide an in-game offer to one or more
players of an online game.
The space module may be configured to execute an instance of a
virtual space. The space module may be further configured to
implement the instance of the virtual space to facilitate
presentation of a view of the virtual space to users. The space
module may be configured to facilitate interaction of the users
with the virtual space by executing actions in the instance of the
virtual space in response to receiving action requests from the
users.
The shop module may be configured to facilitate presentation of a
shop interface. The shop interface may be configured to present
offers to purchase sets of one or more virtual items to the user.
Individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items may have
an associated user cost, such that a first offer for a first set of
one or more virtual items may have a first associated user
cost.
The purchase monitoring module may be configured to obtain an
average rate of purchase of individual ones of the sets of one or
more virtual items by the users. For example, a first average rate
of purchase by the users may be obtained for the first set of one
or more virtual items. The average rate of purchase may be
determined as the average rate over a continuous period of time,
over one or more discrete periods of time, or over other periods of
time. The time frame when determining the average rate of purchase
may be adjusted to include and/or exclude certain time periods. For
example, it may be determined that during a certain time period,
such as a national holiday, or during school vacation periods, the
average rate of purchase may be distorted. In such situations, the
national holiday or the vacation period may be omitted from the
time period used to determine the average rate of purchase.
The cost adjustment module may be configured to adjust the user
cost associated with individual ones of the one or more sets of
virtual items in response to a determination that the rate of
purchase for individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items is more than a specified threshold from the average rate of
purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items. The shop module may be configured to present a first offer
for the first set of one or more virtual items having an adjusted
user cost in response to a determination that the rate of purchase
for the first set of one or more virtual items is more than a
specified threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the
first set of one or more virtual items.
The purchase monitoring module may be configured to monitor the
rate of purchase of sets of one or more virtual items during
defined periodic time intervals. For example, the rate of purchase
of the first set of one or more virtual items may be monitored
during a first periodic time interval. The purchase monitoring
module may be configured to determine that the rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items is more than a specified
threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the first set
of one or more virtual items. The specified threshold may be a
statistical threshold, such as one or two standard deviations above
the average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual items. A rate of purchase above a specified threshold of
the first average rate of purchase may indicate that the first set
of one or more virtual item may have a greater demand among users
of the virtual space.
The cost adjustment module may be configured to adjust the user
cost associated with the first offer for the first set of one or
more virtual items upon a determination that the rate of purchase
during the first periodic time interval is more than a specified
threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the first set
of one or more virtual items. When items have a greater demand
users of a virtual space may be willing to spend a greater amount
to obtain the item compared to when the same items have a lower
demand. Increasing the user cost associated with the first offer
for the first set of one or more virtual items may increase the
revenue generated by the first set of the one or more virtual
items.
The revenue monitoring module may be configured to obtain an
average revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more
virtual items, such that a first average revenue generation rate is
obtained for the first set of one or more virtual items, to
determine revenue generation from purchases of the virtual items
over a second period of time, in response to an adjustment of the
associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items. For example, a second revenue generation rate may be
determined for a first set of one or more virtual items. The
revenue monitoring module may be configured to compare the second
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items with the first average revenue generation rate for the first
set of one or more virtual items.
Increasing the user cost associated with the first set of one or
more virtual items in response to a determination that the purchase
rate of the one or more virtual items has increased may cause the
users of the virtual space to collectively purchase less of the
first set of one or more virtual items, which may, in turn, cause
the revenue generated from the first set of one or more virtual
items to reduce. In response to a determination that the second
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items is more than a specified threshold from the first average
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items, the cost adjustment module may be further configured to
adjust the first user cost associated with the first set of one or
more virtual items.
The specified threshold from the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual item may be a specified number
of standard deviations away from the average, such as two standard
deviations from the average, a monetary value from the average, or
other thresholds from the average. For example, in response to
determining that the first rate of purchase for the first set of
one or more virtual items is two standard deviations above the
first average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual items, the cost adjustment module may be configured to
increase the associated first user cost for the first set of one or
more virtual items, and in response to determining that the first
rate of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual items is
two standard deviations below the first average rate of purchase
for the first set of one or more virtual items, the cost adjustment
module may be configured to decrease the associated first user cost
for the first set of one or more virtual items.
Users of the virtual space may be grouped based on one or more user
parameters, such that a first group of users comprises one or more
users having like parameters. Such parameters may include
geographical location, gender, age, membership to social networking
platforms, personality traits, game character traits, level
attained within a game, amount of in-game purchases, or other
parameters associated with users. The revenue monitoring module is
further configured to obtain an average revenue generation rate for
the first set of one or more virtual items, purchased by a first
set of users comprising users having one or more like parameters.
Determining the average revenue generation rate for users with like
parameters allows the system to adjust the user cost associated
with the one or more sets of virtual items on a portion of the
users playing the game. For example, a first group of users may
comprise users having a first geographical location and a second
group of users may comprise users having a second geographical
location. When the first geographic location has a time which is at
a peak game-playing time, such as early evening, and the second
geographic location may have a time which it as a low game-playing
time, such as during the middle of the night. Adjusting the user
cost associated with the first set of virtual items may have a
different effect to the purchasing behavior of the first group of
users compared to the second group of users. Adjusting the user
cost associated with the first set of virtual items for the first
set of users differently than the adjustment to the user cost
associated with the first set of virtual items for the second set
of users may further enhance revenue generation.
The administrator module may be configured to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of one or more rules for
determining the average purchase rate of individual ones of the one
or more sets of virtual items. For example, there may be periods of
time where the virtual space has been unavailable to users and
where no purchases of virtual items took place. Including this
period in the determination of the average revenue generation rate
may provide inaccurate values. The administrator module may be
configured to facilitate entry and/or selection by administrators
of one or more rules which cause this time period to be discounted
in the determination of the average purchase rate of the virtual
items. Other rules may include selecting one or more parameters to
define one or more groups of users to target when determining the
purchase rates of the virtual items by the one or more groups of
users.
The administrator module may be configured to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of an adjustment to the adjusted
first associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
item. It may be desirable to set the user cost associated with one
or more sets of virtual items at a level which would be different
than that set by the cost adjustment module. For example, a very
rare virtual item may not be purchased by many users, causing the
system to reduce the cost of the item so that it generates revenue.
Reducing the cost of rare virtual items within a game would make
such items accessible to more users which may have an adverse
effect on game play or the emotional investment of users in the
virtual space. The administrator module may be configured to
facilitate entry and/or selection of rules and/or commands to
prevent the system from adjusting the cost of select ones of one or
more sets of virtual items and/or facilitate entry and/or
selection, by administrators, of user costs associated with select
ones of one or more sets of virtual items. Alternatively, the
administrator module may be configured to facilitate entry and/or
selection by administrators of select ones of one or more virtual
items to be subject to the system for adjusting the user cost
associated with purchasable virtual items, and maintaining other
sets of virtual items at the user cost set by administrators.
To avoid certain sets of virtual items from exceeding a value of
other virtual items within the virtual space, and to maintain the
game play experience and emotional investment of users within the
virtual space it may be desirable to set a maximum user cost
associated with certain sets of virtual items. The administrator
module may be configured to facilitate entry and/or selection of a
maximum associated user cost for one or more sets of one or more
virtual items.
These and other features, and characteristics of the present
technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and
economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following description and the appended claims
with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a
part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the
specification and in the claims, the singular form of "a", "an",
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to adjust the user cost
associated with one or more purchasable virtual items.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a virtual shop.
FIG. 3 illustrates a method for adjusting the user cost associated
with one or more purchasable virtual items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to adjust the user cost
associated with one or more purchasable virtual items. The system
100 may be configured to provide a virtual space to users.
Providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtual space
over a network. In some implementations, system 100 may include a
server 102. The server 102 may be configured to communicate with
one or more client computing platforms 104 according to a
client/server architecture. The users may access system 100 and/or
the virtual space via client computing platforms 104.
The server 102 may be configured to execute one or more computer
program modules. The computer program modules may include one or
more of a space module 106, a user module 108, a shop module 110, a
purchase monitoring module 112, a cost adjustment module 114, a
revenue monitoring module 116, an administrator module 118, and/or
other modules. The server 102 may comprise one or more processors
120. The one or more processors 120 may be at the same location or
may be at different locations. In some implementations, the client
computing platforms 104 may be configured to execute one or more
computer program modules that are the same as or similar to the
computer program modules of the server(s) 102 to provide an in-game
offer to one or more players of an online game.
The server 102, client computing platforms 104, and/or external
resources 122 may be operatively linked via one or more electronic
communication links. For example, such electronic communication
links may be established, at least in part, via a network such as
the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated that
this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this
disclosure includes implementations in which servers 102, client
computing platforms 104, and/or external resources 122 may be
operatively linked via some other communication media.
A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more
processors configured to execute computer program modules. The
computer program modules may be configured to enable an expert or
user associated with the given client computing platform 104 to
interface with system 100 and/or external resources 122, and/or
provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing
platforms 104. By way of non-limiting example, the given client
computing platform 404 may include one or more of a desktop
computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet
computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console,
and/or other computing platforms.
The external resources 122 may include sources of information,
hosts and/or providers of virtual environments outside of system
100, external entities participating with system 100, and/or other
resources. In some implementations, some or all of the
functionality attributed herein to external resources 122 may be
provided by resources included in system 100.
The server 100 may include electronic storage 122, one or more
processors 120, and/or other components. The server 102 may include
communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information
with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of
server 102 in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting. The server 102
may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware
components operating together to provide the functionality
attributed herein to server 102. For example, server 102 may be
implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as
server 102.
Electronic storage 122 may comprise electronic storage media that
electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of
electronic storage 122 may include one or both of system storage
that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable)
with server 122 and/or removable storage that is removably
connectable to server 122 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB
port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.).
Electronic storage 122 may include one or more of optically
readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically
readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive,
floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,
EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive,
etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. The
electronic storage xx may include one or more virtual storage
resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or
other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage 122 may store
software algorithms, information determined by processor 120,
information received from server 102, information received from
client computing platforms 104, and/or other information that
enables server 102 to function as described herein.
Processor(s) 120 is configured to provide information processing
capabilities in server 102. As such, processor 120 may include one
or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital
circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed
to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms
for electronically processing information. Although processor 120
is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is for illustrative
purposes only. In some implementations, processor 120 may include a
plurality of processing units. These processing units may be
physically located within the same device, or processor 120 may
represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices
operating in coordination. The processor 120 may be configured to
execute modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or other
modules. Processor 120 may be configured to execute modules 106,
108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or other modules by software;
hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or
firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing
capabilities on processor 120.
It should be appreciated that although 106, 108, 110, 112, 114,
116, and 118 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a
single processing unit, in implementations in which processor 120
includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules 106,
108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or other modules may be located
remotely from the other modules. The description of the
functionality provided by the different modules 106, 108, 110, 112,
114, 116, 118, and/or other modules described below is for
illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any
of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or other modules
may provide more or less functionality than is described. For
example, one or more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118,
and/or other modules may be eliminated, and some or all of its
functionality may be provided by other ones of 106, 108, 110, 112,
114, 116, 118, and/or other modules. As another example, processor
120 may be configured to execute one or more additional modules
that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below
to one of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or other
modules.
The space module 106 may be configured to implement the instance of
the virtual space executed by the computer modules to determine
state of the virtual space. The state may then be communicated
(e.g., via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or
other state information) from server 102 to client computing
platforms 104 for presentation to users. The state determined and
transmitted to a given client computing platform 104 may correspond
to a view for a user character being controlled by a user via the
given client computing platform 104. The state determined and
transmitted to a given client computing platform 104 may correspond
to a location in the virtual space. The view described by the state
for the given client computing platform may correspond, for
example, to the location from which the view is taken, the location
the view depicts, and/or other locations, a zoom ratio, a
dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters
of the view. One or more of the view parameters may be selectable
by the user.
The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space
that is accessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing
platforms 104) that present the views of the virtual space to a
user. The simulated space may have a topography, express ongoing
real-time interaction by one or more users, and/or include one or
more objects positioned within the topography that are capable of
locomotion within the topography. In some instances, the topography
may be a 2-dimensional topography. In other instances, the
topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may
include dimensions of the space, and/or surface features of a
surface or objects that are "native" to the space. In some
instances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a ground
surface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the
space. In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with
one or more bodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of
gravity-deprived space with one or more celestial bodies positioned
therein). The instance executed by the computer modules may be
synchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.
The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual
space is determined by space module 106 is not intended to be
limiting. The space module 106 may be configured to express the
virtual space in a more limited, or more rich, manner. For example,
views determined for the virtual space representing the state of
the instance of the virtual space may be selected from a limited
set of graphics depicting an event in a given place within the
virtual space. The views may include additional content (e.g.,
text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/or other content) that
describes particulars of the current state of the place, beyond the
relatively generic graphics. For example, a view may include a
generic battle graphic with a textual description of the opponents
to be confronted. Other expressions of individual places within the
virtual space are contemplated.
Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space
module 106, users may control characters, objects, simulated
physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other
phenomena), and/or other elements within the virtual space to
interact with the virtual space and/or each other. The user
characters may include avatars. As used herein, the term "user
character" may refer to an object (or group of objects) present in
the virtual space that represents an individual user. The user
character may be controlled by the user with which it is
associated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and
interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the
virtual space, other objects in the virtual space). The user
controlled elements controlled by and/or associated with a given
user may be created and/or customized by the given user. The user
may have an "inventory" of virtual goods and/or currency that the
user can use (e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other
user controlled element, and/or other items) within the virtual
space. Such virtual goods stored in the inventory of the user may
include one or more sets of one or more virtual items purchased by
the user from the virtual store and/or marketplace, facilitated by
the shop module 110.
The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space by
controlling one or more of the available user controlled elements
in the virtual space. Control may be exercised through control
inputs and/or commands input by the users through client computing
platforms 104. The users may interact with each other through
communications exchanged within the virtual space. Such
communications may include one or more of textual chat, instant
messages, private messages, voice communications, and/or other
communications. Communications may be received and entered by the
users via their respective client computing platforms 104.
Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users
through server 102 (e.g., through space module 106).
The user module 108 may be configured to access and/or manage one
or more user profiles and/or user information associated with users
of the system 102. The one or more user profiles and/or user
information may include information stored by server 102, one or
more of the client computing platforms 104, and/or other storage
locations, such as at external resource(s) 122. The user profiles
may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g., a
username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other
identifying information) within the virtual space, security login
information (e.g., a login code or password), virtual space account
information, subscription information, virtual currency account
information (e.g., related to currency held in credit for a user),
relationship information (e.g., information related to
relationships between users in the virtual space), virtual space
usage information, demographic information associated with users,
interaction history among users in the virtual space, information
stated by users, purchase information of users, browsing history of
users, a client computing platform identification associated with a
user, a phone number associated with a user, and/or other
information related to users.
The virtual space, virtual game, and/or users of the virtual space
and/or game, may have one or more electronic social media
interactions. Interactive, electronic social media may include one
or more of a social network, a virtual space, a micro-blogging
service, a blog service (or host), a browser-based game, a
multi-player mobile game, a file (e.g., image file, video file,
and/or other files) sharing service, a messaging service, a message
board, a forum, and/or other electronically distributed media that
are scalable and enable interaction between the users. Some
non-limiting specific examples of interactive, electronic social
media may include the micro-blogging service provided by
Twitter.TM., the social network provided by Facebook.TM., the
social network provided by MySpace.TM., the social network provided
by Foursquare.RTM., the virtual world provided by SecondLife.RTM.,
the massively multi-player online game provided by World of
Warcraft.RTM., the file sharing service provided by Flickr.RTM.,
Blogger, YouTube, PlayStation.RTM. Home, Xbox.RTM. Live, and/or
other interactive electronic social media.
The system 100 may be configured to monitor interactions of the
users with the virtual space and/or each other within the virtual
space. This may include monitoring, for a given user, one or more
of times at which the given user is logged in to the virtual space,
areas of the virtual space the given user views or interacts with
or in, other users the given user interacts with, the nature and/or
content of interactions of the given user with other users,
activities participated in within the virtual space, level, powers,
or skill attained in the virtual space, inventory items obtained in
the virtual space, and/or other interactions of the given user with
the virtual space and/or other users. Some or all of the
information generated by monitoring the interactions of the users
may be stored to the user profiles managed by user module 108.
At a given time, the system 100 may determine a set of users that
are currently engaged with the virtual space and/or a set of users
that are currently not engaged with the virtual space. Being
engaged with the virtual space may refer to being logged in to the
virtual space, performing some action or interaction within the
virtual space within some period of time (e.g., the last 2
minutes), and/or taking some other action indicating ongoing and
contemporaneous engagement with the virtual space.
The system 100 may be configured to determine, for individual
users, an activity metric that indicates an activity level within
the virtual space. The activity metric may be determined based on
one or more of log in frequency, amount of time logged in to the
virtual space within a rolling time period (e.g., over the last
day, week, month, or other rolling time period), average amount of
time logged in to the virtual space over some length of time (e.g.,
per day, per week, and/or other length of time), average log in
session time over a rolling time period, number of inter-user
communications over a length of time, number of inter-user
communications per log in, number of relationships with other users
in the virtual space, number of new relationships with other users
in the virtual space within a rolling time period, amount of real
world money spent in the virtual space, and/or other activity
parameters.
The shop module 110 may be configured to facilitate presentation of
a shop interface. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a
virtual shop. The shop interface 200 may be configured to present
offers 202 to purchase sets of one or more virtual items 204 to the
user. Individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items 204
may have an associated user cost 206, such that a first offer for a
first set of one or more virtual items may have a first associated
user cost.
The shop interface 200 may comprise one or more virtual item
categories 208. The sets of one or more virtual items 204 may be
categorized based upon one or more characteristics of the one or
more virtual items 204 into categories. Such categories may relate
to elements of the virtual game and/or environment, such as
weapons, clothing, food, portions, furniture, and other categories.
The game interface 200 may also include user information 210
providing information to the user on how much virtual currency 212
the user has to spend in the game shop.
The game interface 200 may facilitate purchase of the sets of one
or more virtual items 204. The game interface 200 may include an
electronic button 214 configured to facilitate entry and/or
selection by the user of an instruction to purchase the set of one
or more virtual items 204. Upon an entry and/or selection by the
user of an indication that the user wishes to purchase the set of
one or more virtual items, indicated by the user interacting with
electronic button 214, the set of one or more virtual items may
appear in the user's inventory. Additionally, the user's virtual
currency 212, held in credit for the user, may be reduced by an
amount corresponding to the user cost 206 associated with the set
of the one or more virtual items 204.
The purchase monitoring module 112 may be configured obtain an
average rate of purchase of individual ones of the sets of one or
more virtual items by the users. For example, a first average rate
of purchase by the users may be obtained for the first set of one
or more virtual items. The average rate of purchase may be
determined as the average rate over a continuous period of time,
over one or more discrete periods of time, or over other periods of
time. The time frame when determining the average rate of purchase
may be adjusted to include and/or exclude certain time periods. For
example, it may be determined that during a certain time period,
such as a national holiday, or during school vacation periods, the
average rate of purchase may be distorted. In such situations, the
national holiday or the vacation period may be omitted from the
time period used to determine the average rate of purchase.
The cost adjustment module 114 may be configured to adjust the user
cost associated with individual ones of the one or more sets of
virtual items in response to a determination that the rate of
purchase for individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items is more than a specified threshold from the average rate of
purchase of individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual
items. With reference to FIG. 2, the shop module 110 may be
configured to present a first offer 202 for the first set of one or
more virtual items 204 having an adjusted user cost 206 in response
to a determination that the rate of purchase for the first set of
one or more virtual items 204 is more than a specified threshold
from the first average rate of purchase for the first set of one or
more virtual items 204.
The purchase monitoring module 112 may be configured to monitor the
rate of purchase of sets of one or more virtual items during
defined periodic time intervals. For example, the rate of purchase
of the first set of one or more virtual items may be monitored
during a first periodic time interval. The purchase monitoring
module 112 may be configured to determine that the rate of purchase
for the first set of one or more virtual items is more than a
specified threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the
first set of one or more virtual items. The specified threshold may
be a statistical threshold, such as one or two standard deviations
above the average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual items. A rate of purchase above a specified threshold of
the first average rate of purchase may indicate that the first set
of one or more virtual item may have a greater demand among users
of the virtual space.
The cost adjustment module 114 may be configured to adjust the user
cost associated with the first offer for the first set of one or
more virtual items upon a determination that the rate of purchase
during the first periodic time interval is more than a specified
threshold from the first average rate of purchase for the first set
of one or more virtual items. When items have a greater demand,
users of a virtual space may be willing to spend a greater amount
to obtain the item compared to when the same items have a lower
demand. Increasing the user cost associated with the first offer
for the first set of one or more virtual items may increase the
revenue generated by the first set of the one or more virtual
items.
The revenue monitoring module 116 may be configured to obtain an
average revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more
virtual items, such that a first average revenue generation rate is
obtained for the first set of one or more virtual items, to
determine revenue generation from purchases of the virtual items
over a second period of time, in response to an adjustment of the
associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
items. For example, a second revenue generation rate may be
determined for a first set of one or more virtual items. The
revenue monitoring module 116 may be configured to compare the
second revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more
virtual items with the first average revenue generation rate for
the first set of one or more virtual items.
Increasing the user cost associated with the first set of one or
more virtual items in response to a determination that the purchase
rate of the one or more virtual items has increased may cause the
users of the virtual space to collectively purchase less of the
first set of one or more virtual items, which may, in turn, cause
the revenue generated from the first set of one or more virtual
items to reduce. In response to a determination that the second
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items is more than a specified threshold from the first average
revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual
items, the cost adjustment module 114 may be further configured to
adjust the first user cost associated with the first set of one or
more virtual items.
The specified threshold from the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual item may be a specified number
of standard deviations away from the average, such as two standard
deviations from the average, a monetary value from the average, or
other thresholds from the average. For example, in response to
determining that the first rate of purchase for the first set of
one or more virtual items is two standard deviations above the
first average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual items, the cost adjustment module 114 may be configured to
increase the associated first user cost for the first set of one or
more virtual items, and in response to determining that the first
rate of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual items is
two standard deviations below the first average rate of purchase
for the first set of one or more virtual items, the cost adjustment
module 114 may be configured to decrease the associated first user
cost for the first set of one or more virtual items.
Users of the virtual space may be grouped based on one or more user
parameters, such that a first group of users comprises one or more
users having like parameters. Such parameters may include
geographical location, gender, age, membership to social networking
platforms, personality traits, game character traits, level
attained within a game, amount of in-game purchases, or other
parameters associated with users. The revenue monitoring module 116
may be further configured to obtain an average revenue generation
rate for the first set of one or more virtual items, purchased by a
first set of users comprising users having one or more like
parameters. Determining the average revenue generation rate for
users with like parameters allows the system to adjust the user
cost associated with the one or more sets of virtual items on a
portion of the users playing the game. For example, a first group
of users may comprise users having a first geographical location
and a second group of users may comprise users having a second
geographical location. When the first geographic location has a
time which is at a peak game-playing time, such as early evening,
and the second geographic location may have a time which it as a
low game-playing time, such as during the middle of the night.
Adjusting the user cost associated with the first set of virtual
items may have a different effect to the purchasing behavior of the
first group of users compared to the second group of users.
Adjusting the user cost associated with the first set of virtual
items for the first set of users differently than the adjustment to
the user cost associated with the first set of virtual items for
the second set of users may further enhance revenue generation.
The administrator module 118 may be configured to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of one or more rules for
determining the average purchase rate of individual ones of the one
or more sets of virtual items. For example, there may be periods of
time where the virtual space has been unavailable to users and
where no purchases of virtual items took place. Including this
period in the determination of the average revenue generation rate
may provide inaccurate values. The administrator module 118 may be
configured to facilitate entry and/or selection by administrators
of one or more rules which cause this time period to be discounted
in the determination of the average purchase rate of the virtual
items. Other rules may include selecting one or more parameters to
define one or more groups of users to target when determining the
purchase rates of the virtual items by the one or more groups of
users.
The administrator module 118 may be configured to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of an adjustment to the adjusted
first associated user cost for the first set of one or more virtual
item. It may be desirable to set the user cost associated with one
or more sets of virtual items at a level which would be different
than that set by the cost adjustment module 114. For example, a
very rate virtual item may not be purchased by many users, causing
the system to reduce the cost of the item so that it generates
revenue. Reducing the cost of rare virtual items within a game
would make such items accessible to more users which may have an
adverse effect on game play or the emotional investment of users in
the virtual space. The administrator module 118 may be configured
to facilitate entry and/or selection of rules and/or commands to
prevent the system from adjusting the cost of select ones of one or
more sets of virtual items and/or facilitate entry and/or
selection, by administrators, of user costs associated with select
ones of one or more sets of virtual items. Alternatively, the
administrator module 118 may be configured to facilitate entry
and/or selection by administrators of select ones of one or more
virtual items to be subject to the system for adjusting the user
cost associated with purchasable virtual items, and maintaining
other sets of virtual items at the user cost set by
administrators.
To avoid certain sets of virtual items from exceeding a value of
other virtual items within the virtual space, and to maintain the
game play experience and emotional investment of users within the
virtual space it may be desirable to set a maximum user cost
associated with certain sets of virtual items. The administrator
module 118 may be configured to facilitate entry and/or selection
of a maximum associated user cost for one or more sets of one or
more virtual items.
FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for adjusting the user cost
associated with purchasable virtual items of hosting a virtual
space to client computing devices for interaction by users. The
operations of method 300 presented below are intended to be
illustrative. In some embodiments, method 300 may be accomplished
with one or more additional operations not described, and/or
without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the
order in which the operations of method 300 are illustrated in FIG.
3 and described below is not intended to be limiting.
In some embodiments, method 300 may be implemented in one or more
processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor,
a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog
circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or
other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The
one or more processing devices may include one or more devices
executing some or all of the operations of method 300 in response
to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage
medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more
devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to
be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the
operations of method 300.
At an operation 302, an instance of a virtual space may be
executed. Operation 302 may be performed by a space module that is
the same as or similar to space module 106, in accordance with one
or more implementations.
At an operation 304, the instance may be implemented to facilitate
presentation of a view of the virtual space to users. Operation 304
may be performed by a space module that is the same as or similar
to space module 106, in accordance with one or more
implementations.
At an operation 306, interaction of the users with the virtual
space may be facilitated by executing actions in the instance of
the virtual space in response to receiving action requests from the
users. Operation 306 may be performed by a space module that is the
same as or similar to space module 106, in accordance with one or
more implementations.
At an operation 308, presentation of a shop interface may be
facilitated. The shop interface may present offers to purchase sets
of one or more virtual items to the user where individual ones of
the sets of one or more virtual items has associated user costs,
such that a first offer for a first set of one or more virtual
items has a first associated user cost. Operation 308 may be
performed by a shop module that is the same as or similar to shop
module 110, in accordance with one or more implementations.
At an operation 310, an average rate of purchase of individual ones
of the sets of one or more virtual items by the users may be
obtained. For example, a first average rate of purchase by the
users may be obtained for the first set of one or more virtual
items. Operation 310 may be performed by a purchase monitoring
module that is the same as or similar to purchase monitoring module
112, in accordance with one or more implementations.
At an operation 312, the user cost associated with individual ones
of the one or more sets of virtual items may be adjusted in
response to a determination that the rate of purchase is more than
a specified threshold from the average rate of purchase of
individual ones of the one or more sets of virtual items. For
example, the first offer for the first set of one or more virtual
items may have an adjusted user cost associated in response to a
determination that the rate of purchase for the first set of one or
more virtual items is more than a specified threshold from the
first average rate of purchase for the first set of one or more
virtual items. Operation 312 may be performed by a cost adjustment
module 114 that is the same as or similar to cost adjustment module
114, in accordance with one or more implementations.
In some implementations, at operation 310, the rate of purchase of
sets of one or more virtual items may be monitored during defined
periodic time intervals. For example, the rate of purchase of the
first set of one or more virtual items may be monitored during a
first periodic time interval. Further, at operation 312, the user
cost associated with the first offer for the set first set of one
or more virtual items may be adjusted upon a determination that the
rate of purchase during the first periodic time interval, as
obtained at an operation 310, is more than a specified threshold
from the first average rate of purchase for the first set of one or
more virtual items.
In some implementations, in addition to or instead of performing
the functions of operation 310, an average revenue generation rate
for individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items may be
obtained, such that a first average revenue generation rate may be
obtained for the first set of one or more virtual items.
Additionally, a revenue generation rate from purchases of
individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items over a
second period of time in response to an adjustment of the
associated user cost for the individual ones of the sets of one or
more virtual items may be determined. For example, a second revenue
generation rate may be determined for the first set of one or more
virtual items over the second period of time in response to the
user cost associated with the first set of one or more virtual
items being adjusted. Such operations may be performed by a revenue
monitoring module, such as revenue monitoring module 116, in
accordance with some implementations.
At an operation 314, the second revenue generation rate may be
compared with the first average revenue generate rate for
individual ones of the sets of one or more virtual items, such that
the second revenue generation rate may be compared with the first
average revenue generation rate for the first set of one or more
virtual items. Operation 314 may be performed by a revenue
monitoring module, such as revenue monitoring module 116, in
accordance with some implementations.
In some implementations, an average revenue generation rate may be
obtained, in addition to or in place of operation 310, for the
first set of one or more virtual items, purchased by a first set of
users comprising users having one or more like parameters. At an
operation 314, the first user cost associated with the first set of
one or more virtual items for the first set of users may be
adjusted in response to determining the revenue generation rate for
the first set of one or more virtual items purchased by the first
set of users.
In response to a determination that the first revenue generation
rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is more than a
specified threshold from the first average revenue generation rate
for the first set of one or more virtual items, as determined at an
operation 314, the first user cost associated with the first set of
one or more virtual items may be adjusted. The first user cost
associated with the first set of one or more virtual items may be
reduced, in response to a determination that the second revenue
generation rate for the first set of one or more virtual items is
less than the first average revenue generate rate for the first set
of one or more virtual items. The first user cost associated with
the first set of one or more virtual items may be maintained, in
response to a determination that the second revenue generation rate
for the first set of one or more virtual items is greater than or
the same as the first average revenue generate rate for the first
set of one or more virtual items. Such operations may be performed
by a cost adjustment module, such as cost adjustment module 114, in
accordance with some implementations.
The specified threshold from the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items may be any threshold.
For example the threshold may be two standard deviations from the
average, such that in response to determining that the second rate
of purchase for the first set of one or more virtual items is two
standard deviations above the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items, the associated first
user cost for the first set of one or more virtual items is
increased, and in response to determining that the second rate of
purchase for the first set of one or more virtual items is two
standard deviations below the first average rate of purchase for
the first set of one or more virtual items, the associated first
user cost for the first set of one or more virtual items is
decreased.
In some implementations of method 300, at additional or alternate
operations, entry and/or selection by administrators of one or more
rules for determining the average purchase rate of individual ones
of the one or more sets of one or more virtual items may be
facilitated. In other implementations entry and/or selection by
administrators of an adjustment to the adjusted first associated
user cost for the first set of one or more virtual items may be
facilitated. For example, entry and/or selection of a maximum
associated user cost for the sets of one or more virtual items may
be facilitated. Such operations may be performed by an
administrator module, such as administrator module 118, in
accordance with some implementations.
Although the present technology has been described in detail for
the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered
to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be
understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the
technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on
the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent
arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present
technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more
features of any implementation can be combined with one or more
features of any other implementation.
* * * * *
References